Child-rearing Costs

Tim Loughton: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate the Government have made of the cost of raising a child to the age of 18 at 2003–04 prices.

Dawn Primarolo: The Government have not estimated the cost of raising a child. Since 1997 the Government have radically reformed the way they provide support to families with children, driven by two principal objectives:
	to support all families with children, recognising that families with children face additional costs; and
	to deliver progress on its goal to eradicate child poverty, by offering greatest support to those most in need, while maintaining incentives to work.
	From April 2005, this new system of financial support for families will deliver, through child benefit and child tax credit, a range of support from £17.00 to around £60 a week, compared to a range of £11.05 and £28 a week in 1997.

Taskforces

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much has been spent by his Department in each year since 1997 on taskforces and similar bodies.

Stephen Timms: The costs are set out in the table.
	
		
			 £000 
			  1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 
		
		
			 Private Finance Taskforce (also referred to as the  Treasury Taskforce) — 637 1,825 1,825 1,730 — — — 
			 Partnerships UK: revenue costs — — — 1,000 8,091 920 1,365 3,399 
			 Partnerships UK: capital costs — — — — 20,050 — — — 
			 Financial Action Taskforce — 2 44 30 — 34 — 25 
			 Equitable Life Inquiry — — — — — 72 1,139 277 
			 Diana Memorial Committee — — 33 — — — — — 
		
	
	The Partnerships UK capital costs are the costs of the Treasury's holdings of £4.45 million of ordinary shares and £15.6 million of 6 per cent. loan stock.
	The table excludes costs of the taskforces on Credit Unions, Modern Apprenticeships and Social Investment, which are not separately recorded.

Tax Credits

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people are claiming working tax credit in each constituency in Northern Ireland.

Dawn Primarolo: Estimates of the number of in-work families receiving tax credits in each constituency in Northern Ireland appear in "Child and Working Tax Credit Statistics. Geographical analyses. December 2004". This can be found on the Inland Revenue website at www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/stats/personal-tax-credits/menu.htm. The estimates are based on a sample of cases, and are subject to sampling uncertainty.

M6

David Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has for increasing the capacity of the M6 motorway between junctions 11 and 20.

David Jamieson: I launched a public consultation in July 2004 on an Expressway concept as an alternative to widening the M6 between junction 11a and 19. This consultation closed on 21 October. The responses are currently being analysed. When this is complete I will publish my response.

Civil Aviation Authority

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport for what reasons personal files held by the Civil Aviation Authority on its staff are not regarded as filing systems within the meaning of the Data Protection Act 1998.

Charlotte Atkins: Personal files held by the CAA on its staff are paper files containing various material, including sickness absence forms, pay review letters and correspondence with the Human Resources Department. The personal files relating to each employee are stored in reverse chronological order.
	The personal files are not regarded as filing systems within the meaning of the Data Protection Act 1998 (the "Act") because they do not fulfil the requirements of being a "relevant filing system" as defined in Section 1(1) of the Act. This definition is as follows:
	"any set of information relating to individuals to the extent that, although the information is not processed by means of equipment operating automatically in response to instructions given for that purpose, the set is structured, either by reference to individuals or by reference to criteria relating to individuals, in such a way that specific information relating to a particular individual is readily accessible."
	A searcher would be required to leaf through the documents in a personal file in reverse chronological order to find any particular information. Accordingly the personal files cannot be regarded as a "relevant filing system" within the meaning of the Act.
	The Information Commissioner has agreed with the CAA's view.

Railways Archives

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to establish a rail industry national archive; and if he will make a statement.

Estelle Morris: I have been asked to reply.
	The National Railway Museum (NRM), a museum sponsored by DCMS as part of the National Museum for Science and Industry, plans to establish "Search Engine", a Railway Industry National Archive at NRM in York.

Policy Co-ordination

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what recent discussions he has had with the Deputy Prime Minister about policy co-ordination.

Alan Milburn: I refer the hon. Member to the response I gave the right hon. Member for Bracknell (Mr. Mackay) today.

Policy Co-ordination

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what recent discussions he has had with Lord Birt about policy co-ordination.

Alan Milburn: I refer the hon. Member to the response I gave the hon. Member for Hertford and Stortford (Mr. Prisk) today.

Policy Co-ordination

Adrian Flook: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what recent discussions he has had with the Deputy Prime Minister about policy co-ordination.

Alan Milburn: I refer the hon. Member to the response I gave the right hon. Member for Bracknell (Mr. Mackay) today.

Select Committees (Running Costs)

Andrew Turner: To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission what the running costs of each Select Committee of the House were in the most recent year for which figures are available; and what part of those costs were accounted for by (a) staff costs and (b) costs of publication and printing.

Archy Kirkwood: The Sessional Return (HC 1, 2004–05), published on 25 January 2005, gives a detailed breakdown of expenditure by each Select Committee of the House of Commons for Session 2003–04. Section 10C gives financial information for financial year 2003–04 and Session 2003–04. The figures do not include accommodation and other centrally provided support costs.
	Staff salary costs for the Committee Office in financial year 2003–04 were approximately £6.3 million. Several Committees are staffed from outside the Committee Office by staff who in many cases have other responsibilities, as set out at pages 362–63 of the Return.
	Total printing and publishing costs in financial year 2003–04 were £1,599,696.95.

Consultants

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the total expenditure by his Department on external consultants was in (a) 1996–97 and (b) 2003–04; and what the estimated cost of employing external consultants will be in (i) 2004–05, (ii) 2005–06, (iii) 2006–07 and (iv) 2007–08.

Ivor Caplin: Summaries of Ministry of Defence expenditure on external assistance, of which external consultancy is a part, are available in the Libraries of both Houses for financial years 1996–97 and 2003–04.
	Expenditure on External Assistance for FY 2004–05 is estimated to be in the region of £251 million.
	The Ministry of Defence has not yet set formal budgets for FY 2005–06 to 2007–08.

Infantry Regiments

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence where the (a) Regimental HQ and (b) individual Battalions of (i) Princess of Wales, (ii) Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, (iii) The Royal Anglian, (iv) Light Infantry, (v) Royal Green Jackets, (vi) Royal Gurkha Rifles and (vii) Parachute Regiments are based.

Ivor Caplin: The information sought is as follows:
	
		
			 Regiment Location of Battalions Location of regimental headquarters 
		
		
			 The Princess of Wales' s Royal Regiment (Queens and Royal Hampshires) 1st Battalion The Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment Burtphore Barracks, Tidworth, Hants Howe Barracks, Canterbury, Kent 
			  2nd Battalion The Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment Clive Barracks, Tern Hill, Market Drayton, Shropshire  
			 
			 The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers 1st Battalion The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers Trenchard Barracks, Celle, Germany HM Tower of London, Tower Hill, London 
			  2nd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers Palace Barracks, Holywood, Co. Down, Northern Ireland  
			 
			 The Royal Anglian Regiment 1st Battalion The Royal Anglian Regiment Elizabeth Barracks, Pirbright, Surrey The Keep, Gibraltar Barracks, Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk 
			  2nd Battalion The Royal Anglian Regiment Shackleton Barracks, Ballykelly, Londonderry, Northern Ireland  
			 
			 The Light Infantry 1st Battalion The Light Infantry Alanbroke Barracks, Paderborne, Germany Peninsula Barracks, Winchester, Hampshire 
			  2nd Battalion The Light Infantry Redford Barracks, Edinburgh, Scotland  
			 
			 The Royal Green Jackets 1st Battalion The Royal Green Jackets Weeton Barracks, Preston, Lancashire Peninsula Barracks, Winchester, Hampshire 
			  2nd Battalion The Royal Green Jackets Abercorn Barracks, Ballykinlar, Co. Down, Northern Ireland  
			 
			 The Royal Gurkha Rifles 1st Battalion The Royal Gurkha Rifles Sir John Moore Barracks, Shorncliffe, Folkestone, Kent Headquarters The Brigade of Gurkhas, Airfield Camp, Netheravon, Wiltshire 
			  2nd Battalion The Royal Gurkha Rifles Seria Barracks, Brunei  
			 
			 The Parachute Regiment 1st Battalion The Parachute Regiment Connaught Barracks, Dover, Kent Flagstaff House, Colchester, Essex 
			  2nd Battalion The Parachute Regiment Meanee Barracks, Colchester, Essex  
			  3rd Battalion The Parachute Regiment Hyderabad Barracks, Colchester, Essex

Land Mines (Falklands)

Peter Viggers: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on land mines and land mine clearance in the Falkland Islands.

Adam Ingram: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 3 November 2004, Official Report, column 343W, by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

RAF Manual of Flight Safety

James Arbuthnot: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library the Sixth Edition of the RAF Manual of Flight Safety, issued in March 1993, including annexes.

Adam Ingram: The Sixth Edition of the RAF Manual of Flight Safety, officially described as Air Publication (AP) 3207, was issued in March 1993. This was superseded by the Seventh Edition, issued in 1998, which was itself replaced by a Joint Service Publication (JSP) 551 in July 2003. It is likely that the Sixth Edition will have been subject to a number of amendments (effected by replacing loose-leaf pages) during its period of currency. It is therefore unlikely that we could "reconstruct" the original version of the Sixth Edition, even if a copy of its later state were to come to light. All other copies have been destroyed in line with departmental procedure.
	It is the nature of such documents that there is no reason for anyone to retain them once they have been superseded; perhaps more so once they have been replaced a second time. Therefore it is unlikely that any systematic search would reveal a copy of the Sixth Edition of AP 3207.
	In the case of AP 3207 the organisation responsible for its production, the RAF Institute of Flight Safety, has itself been superseded by the Joint Service "Defence Air Safety Centre" (DASC). We have asked the DASC whether they have a copy of the Sixth Edition, but the only version of AP 3207 they hold is a copy of the Seventh Edition, which had itself been subject to three sets of amendments before it was replaced by JSP 551. I am happy to place in the Library a copy of the Seventh Edition of AP 3207, should the right hon. Member consider it useful.

Service Personnel (Belize)

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many service personnel have died in non-combat situations in Belize in each year since the garrison was first established there.

Ivor Caplin: There has been a British military presence in one form or another in Belize (former British Honduras) since the late 17th Century. In modern times the Regular British Army went to Belize in 1948 and a garrison has been there continuously since this time.
	Between 1 January 1984 and 31 December 2004, 27 Service personnel died in non-combat situations in Belize. It is not possible to provide information on deaths prior to 1984 as centrally held death records are known to be unreliable. A breakdown of these deaths by year is provided as follows.
	
		
			  Non-combat deaths 
		
		
			 1984 2 
			 1985 4 
			 1986 0 
			 1987 1 
			 1988 2 
			 1989 4 
			 1990 1 
			 1991 2 
			 1992 8 
			 1993 1 
			 1994 0 
			 1995 0 
			 1996 1 
			 1997 0 
			 1998 0 
			 1999 1 
			 2000–04 0 
			 Total 27

Trafalgar Celebrations

Ivan Henderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made on identifying areas of support his Department can give to ensure the involvement of the Sea Cadet Association in celebrations of the 200th Anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 24 January 2005
	The Royal Navy will be providing accommodation and transport around the Portsmouth area, and subsidised food for Sea Cadets participating in the Trafalgar 200 (T200) commemoration programme. Sea Cadets will be actively involved in all T200 events as a visible demonstration of the "Past Glories—Future Horizons" theme. It is planned that over the three days the Fleet are in the Solent (the rehearsal day, the review day and the dispersal day) there will be 2,000 cadets on board ships in the Fleet Review, allowing them to experience the Review at first hand. Significant participation is also planned at both the Son et Lumiere and the International Drumhead Ceremony and for the International Festival of the Sea around five hundred cadets will be involved in a multitude of displays. Furthermore, it is planned that places for Sea Cadets will be made available at the St. Paul's Cathedral Service on 23 October and, on the same date, naval cadets will play a key part at the "Celebrations in the Square" Grand Finale event in Trafalgar Square.

Departmental Budget

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will list the resources that have been allocated under each departmental heading and subheading in the 2004 departmental report following the spending review 2004 for each year to 2007–08.

Richard Caborn: holding answer 13 December 2004
	The information is not yet available in the form that the hon. Member requests it. I have therefore set out in the table, the summary details of the Spending Review for the Department's sectors. The full information requested will be available in the Department's Annual Report which is expected to be published at the end of April.
	
		DCMS Allocations from the 2004 Spending Review Resource (£000)
		
			  2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 
		
		
			 Museums, Galleries and Libraries 549,188 578,115 596,115 620,115 
			 Of which: 
			 Museums and Galleries 384,883 400,126 415,605 423,400 
			 Renaissance 20,000 30,000 32,000 45,000 
			 British Library 120,768 124,751 126,993 129,295 
			 Arts 367,921 412,996 412,996 412,996 
			 Of which: 
			 Arts Council 367,155 412,155 412,155 412,155 
			 Heritage (incl. Royal Parks) 179,578 180,858 182,358 188,858 
			 Of which: 
			 English Heritage 121,355 122,735 124,235 125,235 
			 National Heritage Memorial Fund — — — 5,000 
			 Quality and Innovation fund for Culture 0 0 0 6,000 
			 Tourism 54,143 54,614 55,614 55,614 
			 Of which: 
			 VisitBritain 48,580 49,051 50,051 50,051 
			 Gambling 3,478 2,684 2,684 2,684 
			 Of which: 
			 Gaming Board 3,478 2,684 2,684 2,684 
			 Broadcasting and CI 123,660 123,151 123,151 123,751 
			 Of which: 
			 Film Council UK 24,154 23,545 23,545 23,545 
			 Sport 120,643 123,912 151,412 156,912 
			 Of which: 
			 Sport England 81,118 87,616 87,616 87,616 
			 UK Sport 27,738 29,532 29,532 29,532 
			 Football Licensing Authority 1,128 1,264 1,264 1,264 
			 Other Sport — — 27,500 33,000 
			 Total allocations 1,398,611 1,476,330 1,524,330 1,566,930

NESTA

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the total spending on administration costs at the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts was in each year from 1999–2000 to 2003–04; how much was spent on grants in each year; what estimate she has made of (a) administration costs and (b) grant expenditure in each year from 2004–05 to 2007–08; and if she will make a statement.

Estelle Morris: The National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts (NESTA) exists to pioneer ways of supporting and promoting talent, innovation and creativity across science, technology and the arts. It supports awardees both through financial grants and added value assistance that maximises the projects chances of success. Added value assistance includes mentoring and specialist advice.
	NESTA divides its non-grant costs into support for awardees—'programme support costs' and non-awardee costs—'non-programme costs' as set out in the table:
	
		Analysis of expenditure 1999–2005
		
			  1999–2000(3) 2000–01(3) 2001–02(3) 2002–03(3) 2003–04(3) 2004–05(4) 
		
		
			 Awards made(5) 1,948 4,911 5,514 7,271 8,985 10,476 
			 Programme support costs(6) 2,152 3,478 3,758 4,669 6,117 9,052 
			 Other projects directly delivering statutory objects(7) — — 3,105 4,613 4,283 4,125 
			 Total programme costs 4,100 8,389 12,377 16,553 19,385 23,653 
			 Non-programme costs(8) 1,814 1,270 1,204 1,270 1,458 1,732 
			 Total expenditure 5,914 9,659 13,581 17,823 20,843 25,385 
			 Non-programme costs as a percentage of total expenditure 30.7 13.1 8.9 7.1 7.0 6.8 
		
	
	(3) Actual.
	(4) Forecast.
	(5) Awards made (grants and investments) to projects in accordance with NESTA's remit.
	(6) Programme support costs includes the direct costs of developing and delivering the awards programme and an allocation of indirect costs, based on estimated time spent supporting the awards programme.
	(7) Other projects that directly deliver NESTA statutory objects include Futurelab, and Planet Science.
	(8) Non-programme costs include both staff and other administrative costs.
	A detailed breakdown of expenditure can be found in NESTA's Annual report and accounts 2003–04 (HC 23) that was placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
	Spending plans for 2005–06 to 2007–08 will be decided by Trustees of NESTA, having regard to the endowment income available to them and the need to secure value for money when expending funds.
	NESTA has key performance indicator targets that measure operational efficiency in terms of non-grant costs. The Department will shortly discuss with NESTA the targets they intend to set for 2005–06.

Bangladesh

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 
	(1)  what (a) cross-ethnic and (b) cross-faith projects were (i) financed, (ii) planned and (iii) run by his Department in Bangladesh in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what assessment his Department has made of the (a) current level and (b) development since 1997 of religious freedom and tolerance in Bangladesh; what effect the changes have had on the effectiveness of development projects; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: The UK's current assessment is that there is some cause for concern regarding human rights in Bangladesh, including religious freedom and tolerance. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office maintains close contact with minority groups and together we have raised issues of religious freedom at high-level meetings with the Bangladesh Government. My hon. Friend, the Minister of State for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Mr. Alexander) raised the issue of minority rights during his visit in December 2004.
	DFID's support to Bangladesh is for poverty reduction and for poor people's social and economic rights irrespective of their religious or ethnic background. Since 1997 all projects financed, planned and run by DFID have been for cross-faith and cross-ethnic populations. As DFID projects are open to all, none are explicitly cross-ethnic or cross-faith.
	DFID monitors effectiveness on the basis of poverty reduction as measured through the millennium development goals and so do not analyse performance according to faith- based and ethnic-based categories. In addition, DFID specifically supports civil society organisations that promote the realisation and protection of social and economic rights, including for minorities. Some examples are:
	Manusher Jonno (People for People)
	To enhance the capacity of, and opportunities for, poor men, women and children to demand improved governance and recognition of their rights.
	Samata
	Empowerment of the landless to gain access to more resources and to experience less exploitation.
	Nijera Kori
	To increase pressure on government, politicians and others, to provide better access for poor men and women to decision-making processes, resources and services.

Engineers Without Borders

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 
	(1)  what assessment his Department has made of the projects undertaken by (a) Engineers Without Borders UK (EWB-UK) and (b) Engineers Without Borders International since 1997; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  how much (a) funding, (b) logistical aid and (c) aid in kind his Department has (i) pledged and (ii) contributed to projects (A) planned and (B) run by (1) Engineers Without Frontiers UK and (2) Engineers Without Frontiers International in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  what (a) financial assistance, (b) logistical assistance and (c) assistance in kind his Department has given to Engineers Without Borders UK for the Sunseed Desert Technology programme in Almeria, Spain; and if he will make a statement;
	(4)  what assessment his Department has undertaken of the (a) economic, (b) social and (c) humanitarian impact of the Sunseed Desert Technology project undertaken by Engineers Without Borders UK in Almeria, Spain; and if he will make a statement;
	(5)  what assessment his Department has made of the long-term viability of the Sunseed Desert Technology project undertaken by Engineers Without Borders UK in Almeria, Spain; and if he will make a statement;
	(6)  what assessment his Department has made of the (a) marketplace value of and (b) technological and scientific advancement achieved by the Sunseed Desert Technology project run by Engineers Without Borders UK in Almeria, Spain; and if he will make a statement;
	(7)  what assessment his Department has made of the value to the (a) rural and (b) environmental workforce of the Sunseed Desert Technology project run by Engineers Without Borders UK in Almeria, Spain; and if he will make a statement;
	(8)  what assessment his Department has undertaken of the (a) economic, (b) social and (c) humanitarian impact of the World Health Organisation, Pan-American Health Organisation and Medical Mission project undertaken by Engineers Without Borders UK in Paramaribo, Surinam; what assessment he has made of the long-term viability of the programme; and if he will make a statement;
	(9)  what assessment his Department has made of the long-term viability of the Pastoral Social and University of Ibarra project undertaken by Engineers Without Borders UK in Ecuador; and if he will make a statement;
	(10)  what assessment his Department has undertaken of the (a) economic, (b) social and (c) humanitarian effect of the Pastoral Social and University of Ibarra project undertaken by Engineers Without Borders UK in Ecuador; and if he will make a statement;
	(11)  how much (a) financial assistance, (b) logistical assistance and (c) assistance in kind was provided to Engineers Without Borders UK by his Department for the programme in Paramaribo, Surinam with the World Health Organisation, Pan-American Health Organisation and Medical Mission in each year since its inception in 2004; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: DFID is aware of the good work undertaken by Engineers without Borders UK and also through the international network of associate organisations. Initiatives such as placements to expose engineering students to work in developing countries while making a positive impact on peoples' lives, and related small-scale research projects are welcomed. The universities and companies that support the scheme and students who volunteer are to be congratulated. DFID has not provided funding for EWB and so has not undertaken assessments of their projects including EWB's activities in Ecuador and Surinam.
	Regarding the Sunseed Desert Technology programme in Spain, its aims of demonstrating appropriate ways of living sustainably in semi-arid environments are useful and it provides valuable exposure for the volunteers who go to work there. DFID is not involved in this programme and so has not undertaken any assessments of its activities or long term viability.

HIV Treatment

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps he has taken to minimise prices of medications for HIV/AIDS patients in the developing world.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: One third of the world's population still lacks access to essential medicines. The UK Government are committed to increasing access to medicines in developing countries, including for the treatment of HIV and AIDS. There has been significant progress in this area. A combination of increased donor financing, competition from generic medicines, offers by research-based companies and improved health systems has led to a reduction in the price of first line antiretroviral medicines of as much as 98 per cent. over the last four years.
	The UK Government have contributed to this reduction in prices in a number of ways. We worked with our international partners at the World Trade Organisation to reach the decision of 30 August 2003 allowing developing countries with no, or insufficient, manufacturing capacity in their pharmaceutical sector to import copies of patented medicines. These can be imported from countries such as India, following the issuing of a compulsory license in both the importing and exporting country. This important decision should help to increase the supply and availability of quality medicines.
	DFID has significantly increased its funding for AIDS related programmes, including for treatment. The Department has committed to spend at least £1.5 billion on AIDS- related programmes over the next three years, and have doubled our funding to the Global Fund to fight AIDS, TB and Malaria. Increased donor financing to buy medicines has contributed to the reduction in prices by increasing demand.
	DFID has also committed over £1.5 billion since 1997 to strengthen developing country health systems. This includes support to pharmaceutical procurement systems. Good quality systems can help to reduce prices. In addition, the UK supports the World Health Organisation's (WHO)'s work on 'pre-qualification' which increases access to quality, affordable medicines—both patent and generic—in developing countries.
	The UK Government have also worked directly with stakeholders, including the pharmaceutical industry, to increase access to medicines. In 2001 the Prime Minister established a high level UK "Working Group on Increasing Access to Essential Medicines in the Developing World". This reported in November 2002, recommending more support for research and development for diseases disproportionately affecting developing countries, and a global framework to facilitate voluntary, widespread, sustainable and predictable, differential pricing by pharmaceutical companies. This was followed in June 2004 by "Increasing access to essential medicines in the developing world: UK Government policy and plans", which detailed how the UK Government are working in partnership with developing country governments, donors, international agencies, NGOs and the private sector to increase access to medicines.
	DFID has been engaging with pharmaceutical companies to develop a framework encouraging 'good practice' in the pharmaceutical industry so as to increase access to medicines. This framework seeks to recognise the good work of the many companies in the industry, and to encourage pharmaceutical companies to go further by:
	Engaging in widespread differential pricing of medicines in developing countries.
	Increasing research and development investment for diseases affecting developing countries, including through engagement in public-private partnerships.
	Working to support broader health and development goals in developing countries, including by considering voluntary licenses, and
	Reporting on activities designed to increase access to medicines.

HIV/AIDS (Children)

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 
	(1)  how the expenditure on orphans and vulnerable children that is specified in the AIDS strategy will be recorded to ensure that it reaches those children;
	(2)  what indicators the UK Government are intending to use for monitoring expenditure of the £150 million allocated to meet the needs of orphans and children made vulnerable by HIV and AIDS.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: A new sector code "Social Protection for Children" has been created in DFID's internal coding system. All expenditure which attracts this sector code and is also AIDS relevant (has an AIDS code) will be recorded as contributing to the £150 million on orphans and vulnerable children mentioned in the UK AIDS Strategy as activities are actually undertaken and paid for (not just as funds are committed). DFID might create other codes in the future if AIDS-related orphans and vulnerable children work is being undertaken which cannot be described as "social protection".

HIV/AIDS (Children)

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what action the UK Government will be taking in 2005 to secure the commitment of other (a) G8 Governments and (b) EU member states (i) to endorse and (ii) to earmark resources for the implementation of the framework for the protection, care and support of orphans and vulnerable children living in a world with HIV/AIDS.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: DFID will use its Presidencies of the G8 and the EU to increase action on AIDS. This will include attention to the situation of children affected by the pandemic, the orphans and vulnerable children. Committing resources to implement the "Framework for the protection, care and support of orphans and vulnerable children (OVCs) living in a world with HIV and AIDS", which is the global guidance developed by UNICEF and partners and widely endorsed by the international community, including DFID, is key. The framework is being translated into national OVC action plans—16 have been developed in Sub-Saharan Africa and more are being planned.
	DFID has announced a commitment to spend at least £150 million over three years on OVCs (of which £44 million will go to UNICEF for the development and implementation of national OVC action plans). We will be encouraging other G8 and EU member states to increase their support to national programmes. The USA has, like us, already earmarked funding and endorsed the framework as have Germany and Denmark. Canada and France also see OVCs as a priority issue, yet others have not yet followed this line.
	Along with other member states we are engaging in the consultation process towards a new Programme for Action on HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis which the EC expects to adopt in 2006. The current Programme for Action does not address orphans and vulnerable children and we will consider how best to address this gap in the forthcoming consultations. Discussions on the new EU Development Policy have only just started. The Commission has produced a 'Consultation on the future of EU Development Policy Issues Paper', which includes consideration of the broad themes of 'Development of human resources and citizens' rights' and 'Combating inequality and promoting social cohesion', both of which are likely to include consideration of orphans and vulnerable children. Consultations with members of the European Parliament and other member states will take place in due course.

HIV/AIDS (Children)

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what his Department's priority countries are in regard to orphans and other children made vulnerable by HIV and AIDS.

Hilary Benn: At the launch of "Taking Action: The UK's strategy for tackling HIV and AIDS in the developing world", the Prime Minister announced that £150 million would be dedicated to helping orphans and other children made vulnerable by AIDS, especially in Africa.
	Our priority countries are those countries where we have a Public Sector Agreement. In Africa these are Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and, Zimbabwe.
	DFID will be working in most of these countries in support of the development and implementation of national action plans for the protection, care and support of orphans and vulnerable children. In addition, we will be providing support to some of the worst affected countries in Southern Africa, such as Namibia and Swaziland through a regional programme of support implemented by UNICEF.

World Trade Organisation

Clare Short: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what estimate he has made of the likely trade gains to least developed countries under the Doha Development Agenda; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: Despite the difficulties of estimating the effects of trade reform, World Bank figures indicate that eliminating all barriers to trade in goods would generate an extra US$250 billion—$620 billion in global income, up to half of which would go to developing countries. They further estimate that a pro-poor outcome to the Doha Development Round of negotiations could reduce the number of people living on less than $2 a day by 144 million, with sub-Saharan Africa seeing the greatest reduction—over 60 million.
	We need to keep the Doha Development Agenda as ambitious as possible in order to realise these gains. The EU, along with several other World Trade Organisation (WTO) members, already provides duty free and quota free access for least developed countries under the "Everything But Arms" initiative; DFID would like to see other WTO members extend similar market access to these countries.
	It is also important to tackle all distortions in world agricultural trade—tariffs, quotas and unfair forms of export competition. Progress in this area will determine the extent to which poor people, like the cotton producers of Benin, Chad, Burkina Faso and Mali will benefit from the outcome of the Doha Round.
	However, World Bank research also emphasises that market access is necessary but not sufficient for the least developed countries to maximise the potential trade gains from multilateral trade liberalisation under the Doha Round.
	We must also acknowledge and tackle the many supply side constraints faced by the poorest countries. This will require a combination of domestic reforms, technical assistance and capacity building, to enable their producers to take better advantage of new market opportunities abroad, for example, through meeting the stringent product standards that their exports often face.

Community Interest Companies

Martyn Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what research her Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on social enterprises since the Community Interest Company title was introduced under the Companies (Audit Investigations and Community Enterprise) Act 2004; and if she will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith: No research on social enterprises has been commissioned since CICs gained Royal Assent in October 2004.
	The Social Enterprise Unit, DTI, together with English Regional Development Agencies and the devolved administrations, has been undertaking a project to establish baseline data on the nature and extent of social enterprises across the UK. This project is one of our commitments in "Social Enterprise: a strategy for success". Thousands of enterprises have taken part in short telephone surveys, which were completed in December 2004. The data is currently being analysed and results are expected to be published in spring 2005.
	In addition, the Social Enterprise Unit, in consultation with the devolved administrations and other Government Departments, is in the process of commissioning a review of the Government's strategy for social enterprise to help inform future action in this area.

Community Interest Companies

Martyn Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what progress has been made since the creation of Community Interest Companies under the Companies (Audit Investigations and Community Enterprise) Act 2004 further to support the establishment of social enterprises; and if she will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith: The substantive provisions of the Companies (Audit, Investigations and Community Enterprise) Act 2004 relating to community interest companies will come into force on the 1 July 2005. Mr. John Hanlon has been appointed as the independent regulator of community interest companies and will take up office on 1 April. My Department is working with him, his staff and Companies House to ensure applications to form a community interest company can be made from July 2005 onwards. My Department is also considering responses to the consultation on draft community interest company regulations which closed in January 2005. A final draft of the regulations will be laid before both Houses soon.
	My Department has published two fact sheets providing information on community interest companies and the role of the regulator. A third fact sheet providing further information is in preparation. More than 30 individuals and organisations have registered their intention to form or convert to community interest companies since the publication of the first fact sheet in December 2004. The regulator and his office will issue more detailed guidance before July 2005.
	More broadly, the Social Enterprise Unit within the Small Business Service continues to lead Government activities to support the establishment and growth of social enterprises, within the framework laid out in the 2002 document 'Social enterprise: a strategy for success'

Publicity

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the total expenditure by her Department on (a) advertising and (b) advertising and publicity was in (i) 1996–97, (ii) 1997–98 and (iii) 2003–04; and what the estimate of cost of each will be in (A) 2004–05, (B) 2005–06, (C) 2006–07 and (D) 2007–08.

Patricia Hewitt: The information requested is not held centrally in the form required and could be produced only at disproportionate cost.

Budget Allocations

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the total spending on the (a) Union Learning Fund, (b) Adult Learning Inspectorate, (c) Wellbeing Project, (d) National College of School Leadership, (e) Sector Skills Development Agency and (f) Office of Fair Access was in each year from 1997–98 to 2003–04; and what the planned expenditure is on each for each year from 2004–05 to 2007–08.

Derek Twigg: Information on total spending can be provided from the year in which the body started operation or the initiative began. The following table shows expenditure in £ millions.
	
		
			   £ million 
			 Body/initiative Date began 1998/99 1999/2000 2000/01 2001/02 2002/03 
		
		
			 Union Learning Fund 1998/99 1.7 3.1 3.9 6.3 7.4 
			 Adult Learning Inspectorate 2001/02 — — — 17.1 24.5 
			 Wellbeing Project 2003/04 — — — — — 
			 National College of School Leadership 2001/02 — — — 26.5 60.5 
			 Sector Skills Development Agency 2002/03 — — — — 15.9 
			 Office for Fair Access 2005/06 — — — — — 
		
	
	
		
			 Body/initiative Date began 2003/04 2004/05 2005/06 2006/07 2007/08 
		
		
			 Union Learning Fund 1998/99 12.2 14.2 14.4 14.4 14.4 
			 Adult Learning Inspectorate 2001/02 27.8 27.6 28.2 28.1 28.6 
			 Wellbeing Project 2003/04 1 1 — — — 
			 National College of School Leadership 2001/02 92.6 115.5 99.2 — — 
			 Sector Skills Development Agency 2002/03 34.9 69.7 66.6 61.4 60.2 
			 Office for Fair Access 2005/06 — 0.5 — — — 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. 2004/05 figures are latest forecasts of end year expenditure.
	2. 2005/06, 2006/07 and 2007/08 figures are indicative only.
	3. Figures for 2006/07 and 2007/08 for the National College of School Leadership have yet to be finalised.
	4. Funding for the Wellbeing Project ends in 2005/06.
	5. Figures for the Adult Learning Inspectorate and the Sector Skills Development Agency in 2006/07 and 2007/08 reflect efficiency savings agreed as part of the review carried out by Sir Peter Gershon.

Enterprise Education

Rob Marris: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much funding was allocated by the Government to support enterprise in the curriculum in (a) secondary schools and (b) further education colleges in (i) 2001–02, (ii) 2002–03, (iii) 2003–04 and (iv) 2004–05 including Enterprise Week in 2004; and if she will make a statement.

Stephen Twigg: Over the past two years the Government invested £15 million to over 195 fund enterprise pathfinder projects involving over 700 school and £16 million on the Enterprise Advisers service to help prepare schools in deprived areas for Enterprise Education. In addition, from September 2005 funding of £60 million will provide an Enterprise Education entitlement for all the key stage 4 pupils.
	Funding to support Enterprise Education in Further Education is a matter for the Learning and Skills Council and I have therefore asked Mark Haysom, the Council's Chief Executive, to write to my hon. Friend. A copy of his reply will be placed in the Library.
	The DfES worked closely with Enterprise Insight to support Enterprise Week 2004 in ways other than financial.

Benefits

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many individuals were in receipt of (a) incapacity benefit, (b) disability living allowance, (c) attendance allowance, (d) carer's allowance and (e) child benefit in Southend-on-Sea in (i) 1980, (ii) 1990, (iii) 2000 and (iv) 2004.

Maria Eagle: Figures broken down by local authority are not available for any of these benefits prior to 2000. In the case of carer's allowance and child benefit, no such breakdown is available prior to 2001.
	Child benefit figures are now published by Inland Revenue and are not yet available for 2004.
	The available information is in the following table. Benefit recipients in Southend-on-Sea at dates shown.
	
		Number
		
			 Benefit August 2000 August 2004 
		
		
			 Incapacity benefit and severe  disablement allowance 6,000 6,900 
			 Disability living allowance 4,400 6,200 
			 Attendance allowance 4,500 5,100 
			 Carer's allowance n/a 1,745 
		
	
	n/a = not available
	Notes:
	1. Incapacity benefit and severe disablement allowance figures are rounded to the nearest hundred. The figures include incapacity benefit credits-only cases.
	2. Disability living allowance and attendance Allowance figures are rounded to the nearest hundred. A change in methodology from 2002 means that, after that date, there is a small increase in case loads due to some terminated cases being included.
	3. Carer's allowance figures are rounded to the nearest five. The figure includes those entitled to carer's allowance but not receiving it due to overlapping benefit rules.
	Source:
	IAD Information Centre, 5 per cent. data, except carer's allowance which is 100 per cent. data.

Benefits

Mark Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many claims for incapacity benefit were denied on the grounds of insufficient national insurance payments in the last two years for which figures are available.

Maria Eagle: The information is in the following table.
	
		Incapacity benefit claims disallowed due to failing the contribution conditions
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 January to December 2004 332,430 
			 January to December 2003 340,440 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Figures have been rounded to the nearest five.
	2. Figures are for "disallowed at outset" cases, these are cases where the claimant has failed the contribution conditions for incapacity benefit. However these claims could still result in an award of incapacity benefit credits-only.
	Source:
	IAD Information Centre, 100 per cent. counts.

Lone Parents

Mark Fisher: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what his estimate is of the number of lone parents in Stoke-on-Trent in each of the past three years;
	(2)  what the total expenditure on the New Deal for Lone Parents in Stoke-on-Trent has been in each year that the scheme has been in operation;
	(3)  what proportion of lone parents in Stoke-on-Trent have successfully applied for payments under the New Deal for Lone Parents in each year that the scheme has been in operation.

Jane Kennedy: Information on New Deal expenditure is only available at national level. The latest available information on the number of lone parents in Stoke-on-Trent is taken from the 2001 census. Out of 103,196 households in Stoke-on-Trent, 7.7 per cent. were lone parent households with dependant children.
	The available information relating to lone parents in Stoke-on-Trent who have received a New Deal for Lone Parents related payment is in the table.
	
		Number of people on New Deal for Lone Parents (NDLP) in Stoke-on-Trent who have received a NDLP related payment
		
			October-September  Total number of people starting NDLP Of which, recorded as receiving an NDLP related payment 
		
		
			 1998–99 310 20 
			 1999–2000 390 10 
			 2000–01 400 30 
			 2001–02 510 20 
			 2002–03 540 10 
			 2003–04 580 0 
			 Total 2,730 90 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Figures include information for the three Stoke-on-Trent parliamentary constituencies (Stoke-on-Trent, North, Stoke-on-Trent, Central and Stoke-on-Trent, South).
	2. Payments include training premium payments, childcare subsidy and child care costs and course fee and equipment payments.
	3. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10.
	Source:
	New Deal Evaluation Database

New Deal

David Wilshire: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of clients of the new deal programmes have left to go into employment, broken down by region; and what proportion of those who do so are still in work or have not returned to the claimant register (a) three months later, (b) six months later and (c) a year later, broken down by region.

Jane Kennedy: holding answer 25 January 2005
	Information is not available on the length of time individuals have spent in jobs gained through new deal.
	Available information on the proportion of new deal participants not claiming a working age benefit after gaining a job is in the following tables.
	
		New deal for young people
		
			  Leavers Of which, to employment Proportion of those leaving to employment who have not claimed a subsequent working age benefit within the stated periods (percentage) 
			 Jobcentre plus region Number Number Proportion (percentage) 3 Months 6 Months 12 Months 
		
		
			 Scotland 82,660 31,020 38 89 70 54 
			 North East 55,400 21,820 39 91 74 58 
			 North West 100,160 38,650 39 90 74 59 
			 Yorkshire and Humber 79,300 30,860 39 91 75 60 
			 Wales 44,380 18,390 41 89 72 58 
			 West Midlands 78,170 26,900 34 91 76 61 
			 East Midlands 43,970 17,510 40 91 74 60 
			 East of England 35,440 14,600 41 91 76 63 
			 South East 40,750 16,500 40 91 76 63 
			 London 107,040 33,340 31 93 80 67 
			 South West 38,650 17,330 45 91 76 63 
			 Great Britain 705,990 266,960 38 91 75 61 
		
	
	
		New deal 25 plus
		
			  Leavers Of which, to employment Proportion of those leaving to employment who have not claimed a subsequent working age benefit within the stated periods (percentage) 
			 Jobcentre plus region Number Number Proportion (percentage) 3 Months 6 Months 12 Months 
		
		
			 Scotland 51,080 8,530 17 85 67 52 
			 North East 35,230 5,600 16 86 70 55 
			 North West 56,040 10,100 18 85 70 55 
			 Yorkshire and Humber 49,330 8,500 17 87 71 57 
			 Wales 22,440 3,800 17 85 69 55 
			 West Midlands 45,750 7,920 17 87 72 58 
			 East Midlands 27,820 4,950 18 86 70 57 
			 East of England 26,050 5,480 21 86 72 60 
			 South East 31,700 6,540 21 87 72 60 
			 London 87,320 15,160 17 88 76 63 
			 South West 23,310 5,370 23 87 73 60 
			 Great Britain 458,180 82,430 18 86 72 58 
		
	
	
		New deal for lone parents
		
			  Leavers Of which, to employment Proportion of those leaving to employment who have not claimed a subsequent working age benefit within the stated periods (percentage) 
			 Jobcentre plus region Number Number Proportion (percentage) 3 Months 6 Months 12 Months 
		
		
			 Scotland 39,580 21,440 54 90 80 69 
			 North East 23,510 13,070 56 91 79 70 
			 North West 56,930 30,010 53 92 82 73 
			 Yorkshire and Humber 38,080 21,750 57 92 82 73 
			 Wales 24,480 14,210 58 91 81 72 
			 West Midlands 34,840 17,580 50 92 83 74 
			 East Midlands 22,330 12,440 56 93 84 75 
			 East of England 24,080 12,880 54 93 85 77 
			 South East 38,630 19,610 51 93 85 77 
			 London 46,560 18,440 40 93 86 78 
			 South West 32,040 17,940 56 93 85 76 
			 Great Britain 381,150 199,440 52 92 83 74 
		
	
	
		New deal for disabled people
		
			  Gained a job Proportion of those gaining a job who have not claimed a subsequent working age benefit within the stated periods (percentage) 
			 Jobcentre plus region Number 3 Months 6 Months 12 Months 
		
		
			 Scotland 1,540 86 78 66 
			 North East 1,910 83 76 65 
			 North West 1,930 86 79 70 
			 Yorkshire and Humber 650 92 85 76 
			 Wales 2,660 87 78 69 
			 West Midlands 680 89 84 75 
			 East Midlands 810 88 83 73 
			 East of England 580 90 85 77 
			 South East 840 90 85 76 
			 London 860 86 79 71 
			 South West 2,260 88 81 72 
			 Great Britain 14,830 87 80 70 
		
	
	
		New deal 50 plus
		
			 Jobcentre plus region Received new deal 50 plus employment credit: April 2000 to March 2003 Recorded job entries April 2003 to October 2004 
		
		
			 Scotland 12,180 5,430 
			 North East 6,360 2,340 
			 North West 12,710 4,600 
			 Yorkshire and Humber 10,660 4,000 
			 Wales 7,290 2,400 
			 West Midlands 9,940 4,000 
			 East Midlands 7,290 2,130 
			 East of England 6,880 2,480 
			 South East 7,740 2,790 
			 London 7,750 3,840 
			 South West 9,180 2,810 
			 Great Britain 98,040 37,410 
		
	
	
		New deal for partners
		
			 Jobcentre plus region Gaining a job 
		
		
			 Scotland 60 
			 North East 20 
			 North West 50 
			 Yorkshire and Humber 40 
			 Wales 30 
			 West Midlands 30 
			 East Midlands 20 
			 East of England 20 
			 South East 30 
			 London 40 
			 South West 40 
			 Great Britain 1,870 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Information for new deal for young people, new deal 25 plus and new deal for lone parents covers leavers from these programmes between July 1999 to March 2003.
	2. Information for new deal for disabled people relates to people gaining a job and is from the start of the programme in July 2001 to March 2003.
	Information is not available on numbers leaving the programme.
	3. Information is not available on the length of time new deal 50 plus leavers have not claimed a benefit. Information provided is on those gaining a job and receiving the new deal 50 plus employment credit up to March 2003, and recorded job entries from April 2003 to October 2004.
	4. Information is not available on the length of time new deal for partners leavers have not claimed a benefit. National information for new deal for partners (on jobs gained) is for the period May 1999 (start of the programme) to March 2004. A regional breakdown is only available for the period April 2002 to March 2004.
	5. Information is taken from the DWP Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study which contains all benefit claims that can be linked to the records on the New Deal Evaluation Database. These records currently cover the period July 1999 to March 2004.
	6. The period July 1999 to March 2003 has been used for information provided on leavers from new deal for young people, new deal 25 plus and new deal for lone parents, and people gaining a job through new deal for disabled people, to allow a full 12 month period to elapse before subsequent benefit claims.
	7. The proportion not claiming a subsequent benefit does not include people who continued an existing benefit claim which started before the start of the job and continued after the job start.
	8. The working age benefits referred to are: jobseeker's allowance, income support, incapacity benefit, severe disability allowance, invalid carer's allowance, bereavement benefit, and widow's/widower's benefit.
	9. All figures are rounded to the nearest 10.
	Source:
	DWP Information and Analysis Directorate.

Right-to-Buy

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what proposals he has for giving a right to buy to tenants of registered social landlords; and on what terms.

Keith Hill: The Right to Buy and Right to Acquire schemes, which enable eligible housing association tenants to buy their home, will continue as modified by the Housing Act 2004.
	The Government plans to make it easier for all social tenants, including housing association tenants, to buy a home through a new offer—the Choice to own. Details are set out in "Sustainable Communities Homes for all"—the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's Five Year Plan—published on 24 January.
	The proposals include a new Homebuy scheme to help housing association and local authority tenants to buy a stake in their homes that can be increased over time. We will encourage social landlords to offer the scheme, which will be voluntary, as widely as possible. We plan to consult on further details by Easter and have the scheme running by April 2006.

Child Sex Offences

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the rate of conviction in cases where the defendant was charged with child sex offences was in the most recent period for which figures are available; and what the rate of conviction in cases where the defendant is charged with child sex offences where similar fact evidence was introduced was in that period.

Paul Goggins: Statistics of defendants charged with crimes are not collected centrally. The number of defendants proceeded against and convicted for sexual offences for 2003 are provided in the table, together with conviction rates.
	It is not possible from the statistics collected to identify those defendants proceeded against, where similar fact evidence was introduced, as these circumstances are not collected centrally.
	Statistics for 2004 will be published in autumn next year.
	
		Defendants proceeded against at magistrates courts and sentenced at all courts for sexual offences(9) etc. against minors where the age of the victim is identified by the offence, 2003—England and Wales
		
			 Offence Proceeded against Found guilty Conviction rate (percentage) 2 
		
		
			 Sexual offences involving minors(11)
			 Buggery by a male of a male under 16 49 42 86 
			 Buggery by a male aged 21 or over with a male aged 16 or 17 — — — 
			 Buggery by a male aged 18–20 with a male aged 16 or 17 — — — 
			 Buggery by a male with a female under 16 10 5 50 
			 Buggery by a male aged 21 or over with a female aged 16 or 17 — — — 
			 Buggery by a male aged 18–20 with a female aged 16 or 17 — — — 
			 Indecent assault on male person under 16 years 419 264 63 
			 Gross indecency by a male aged 21 or over with a male aged under 18 1 — — 
			 Gross indecency by a male aged 18–20 with a male aged under 18 — — — 
			 Rape of a female aged under 16 1,037 254 24 
			 Rape of a male aged under 16 114 29 25 
			 Attempted rape of a female aged under 16 97 35 36 
			 Attempted rape of a male aged under 16 17 8 47 
			 Indecent assault on a female under 16 1,956 1,206 62 
			 Unlawful sexual intercourse with girl under 13 71 49 69 
			 Unlawful sexual intercourse with girl under 16 185 248 134 
			 Incest with a girl under 13 10 9 90 
			 Inciting girl under 16 to have incestuous sexual intercourse 3 2 67 
			 Householder permitting unlawful sexual intercourse with girl under 16 — — — 
			 Person responsible for girl under 16 causing or encouraging her prostitution etc. — — — 
			 Male aged 21 or over procuring or attempting to procure a male under 18 of gross  indecency with another male — — — 
			 Abduction of unmarried girl under 16 7 2 29 
			 Abduction of unmarried girl under 18 1 — — 
			 Gross indecency with boys aged less than 16 146 91 62 
			 Gross indecency with girls aged less than 16 283 190 67 
			 Total 4,406 2,434 55 
		
	
	(9) Principal offence basis.
	(10) Proportion of defendants proceeded against who were found guilty.
	(11) Excludes those sexual offences where the age of the victim cannot be identified in the wording of the offence.
	Source:
	RDS—Office For Criminal Justice Reform

Children in Prison

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many women serving a prison sentence have their children with them in prison; and how many children are with mothers in prison.

Paul Goggins: The Prison Service provides places in Mother and Baby Units for infants up to about 18 months old. On 13 December 2004, there were 51 mothers and 50 babies in those Units.

Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  when he will reply to the letter dated 15 November 2004 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mr. K. Gelani;
	(2)  when he intends to answer the letter dated 15 November 2004 from the Right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mr. K. Gelani.

Charles Clarke: I replied to my right hon. Friend on 25 January 2005.

Correspondence

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many letters his Department received from members of the general public in the United Kingdom during the year 2004.

Fiona Mactaggart: The Home Office's central Direct Communications Unit received 25,259 letters and 10,530 e-mails from members of the general public in 2004.
	The figures include cases transferred to other Government Departments, and agencies other than HM Prison Service.
	Because they are not recorded, the figures do not include:
	correspondence sent direct to named officials or units
	correspondence sent to the Immigration and Nationality Department, who are currently looking to establish a method of recording public correspondence
	correspondence sent to HM Prison Service
	"campaign" correspondence where more than 50 identical communications were received
	items to which no reply was sent due to lack of return address
	items to which no reply was sent due to the offensive or threatening nature of the correspondence.

Correspondence

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Minister of State for Crime Reduction, Policing and Community Safety will reply to the letter of 14 October from the hon. Member for Southend, west.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 18 January 2005
	I answered the hon. Member's concerns in my reply to his parliamentary question on 3 November 2004. I have, in addition, replied in a letter dated 1 February 2005.

Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will reply to the letter from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton dated (a) 29 November 2004 with regard to (i) Ms Yulima Vicentre Vidal and (ii) Dr. A. R. Estabragh, (b) 17 November 2004 with regard to Ms Thembalani Chinyoka, (c) 1 November 2004 with regard to Lily Beverley and (d) 18 November 2004 with regard to Mr. Shaban Kurkala.

Charles Clarke: The information is as follows:
	(a) (i) and (ii) I wrote to my right hon. Friend on 28 January 2005.
	(b) I wrote to my right hon. Friend 19 January 2005.
	(c) I wrote to my right hon. Friend on 1 February 2005.
	(d) I wrote to my right hon. Friend on 14 January 2005.

Curfew Orders

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, 
	(1)  what the cost of purchasing the electronic monitoring kit used for home detention curfew orders is;
	(2)  what the total annual cost was of the home detention curfew electronic monitoring kit in the last financial year for which figures are available; and how many kits were available for use in that year;
	(3)  what the average cost is of a call out following a violation of an electronic monitoring device.

Paul Goggins: The Home Office pays one total price to each electronic monitoring supplier for the delivery of a complete electronic monitoring service. The price varies according to the volume of offenders being monitored. It includes the provision of a monitoring centre, field staff and other items, as well as the lease of the equipment. The cost of the equipment, and of visits to investigate violations, is not separately identified.
	In the year 2003–04 the total cost of the service was £81 million. A total of 46,472 people were monitored in all categories and a total of 18,586 sets of electronic monitoring equipment were made available during that period.

Departmental Costs/Expenditure

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the cost of (a) new builds, (b) demolition rebuilds and (c) PFI projects in his Department in each of the last two years.

Fiona Mactaggart: The estimated cost of new builds (including demolition where required) and PFI projects over the last two years is as follows:
	
		
			   £ million 
			  New builds and demolition re-builds  PFI projects 
		
		
			 2003–04 213. 5 92. 0 
			 2004–05 197. 7 183. 2 
		
	
	The PFI costs include fees, IT cabling and furniture where appropriate. New builds exclude leased developments, fees and other costs. Both exclude VAT. PFI costs are an indication of developers' approximate costs as these are not paid by the Department. 2004–05 is estimated out-turn to 31 January 2005.

Departmental Costs/Expenditure

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his estimate is of the (a) annual cost and (b) total value of the empty properties owned by (i) his Department, (ii) his agencies and (iii) other public bodies for which he has had responsibility in each of the last two years.

Fiona Mactaggart: The Home Office, including its executive agencies and non-departmental public bodies currently have a number of vacant freehold properties comprising surplus sites, former probation offices, and former prison officer housing.
	
		
			   £ 
			   Organisation Total existing use value Current annual running cost excluding any internal capital charges 
		
		
			 Home Office 8,668,000 401,000 
			 Prison Service 6,314,000 No central records kept 
		
	
	The properties are vacant pending disposal either on the open market or to other Government Departments. Historic records are not kept in respect of vacant properties.

Departmental Costs/Expenditure

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the cost of refurbishing each ministerial private office was in the last two years.

Fiona Mactaggart: Expenditure mainly on essential alterations to allow internal re-organisation of Ministers' offices including meeting rooms, with some simultaneous improvements totalled £15,624 in 2003–04 and will be nil in 2004–05 excluding VAT.

Departmental Files

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether it is the policy of the Department to retain for the benefit of future (a) historians and (b) applicants under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 the same (i) complete categories of files, (ii) numbers of files and (iii) representative examples of files from categories of files destroyed as had been preserved prior to the passage of that Act.

Fiona Mactaggart: In accordance with the Public Records Act 1958 S.3, the selection of records of enduring historical value for permanent preservation at The National Archives (TNA) will continue to take place in the Home Office under the guidance and supervision of TNA staff. The Department will also comply with the Code of Practice on Records Management, issued by the Lord Chancellor under S.46 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000, which underlines the importance of having clear selection policies and disposal schedules in place.

Departmental Staff

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of the staff employed by his Department have a declared disability.

Fiona Mactaggart: The Cabinet Office collects and publishes annually statistical information on the civil service by Department. These include data on the number of staff who have a declared disability. The latest information at April 2004 is available in the Library and on the civil service website and the following address:
	http://www.civilservice.gov.uk/management information/statistical information/statistics/publications/xls/disability apr04 4nov04.xls

Departmental Staff

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many women there are in senior positions in his Department.

Fiona Mactaggart: The Cabinet Office collects and publishes annually statistical information on the civil service by Department. These include data on the number of women in senior positions in Departments and on the number of staff who have a declare disability.
	The latest available information at April 2004 is available in the Library and on the civil service website and the following addresses:
	http://www.civilservice.gov.uk/management information/statistical information/statistics/publications/xls/gender apr04 4nov04.xls

EC Legislation

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on Council Decision 2004/926/EC of 22 December 2004; and when this proposed change to UK treaty obligations was reported to Parliament.

Caroline Flint: Following Council Decision 2004/926/EC, the UK has now commenced the judicial co- operation, drugs co-operation, obligations on carriers, measures to combat trafficking of human beings and police co-operation parts of the Schengen acquis. The UK will now formally be able to benefit from enhanced police and judicial co-operation powers with Schengen partners.
	The UK's application to participate (8562/99) was deposited in Parliament as was the draft Council Decision on the UK's participation. The legislative basis for participation in these provisions was included in the Crime (International Co-operation) Act 2003. Following a successful evaluation, the Council Decision on the partial participation in Schengen was adopted on 22 December 2004 and came into force on 1 January 2005. I informed the House following the Justice and Home Affairs Council meeting on 2 December 2004 that the Council Decision on the application of parts of the provisions of the Schengen acquis to the UK would soon be ready for adoption, by way of a written answer on 15 December 2004.

Initiatives (Funding)

Andrew Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what budget was allocated to (a) the Connecting Communities Network, (b) the Civil Justice Council, (c) the Criminal Justice Integration Unit, (d) crime reduction partnerships, (e) each of the regional crime reduction teams, (f) the drug action teams, (g) the Criminal Records Bureau and (h) the Frank Drugs Campaign in each of the last two years; and how many staff each organisation employed in each year.

Fiona Mactaggart: The information is as follows:
	(a) The Department does not recognise the term "Connecting Communities Network", but the budget for the Connecting Communities Grant programme was £4.695 million in the financial year 2003–04, rising to £5.908 million in 2004–05. The number of Home Office staff employed full-time on administering this grant was five in 2003–04, and one and a half in 2004–05.
	(b) The Civil Justice Council (CJC) is funded by the Department for Constitutional Affairs. The CJC's budget was £205,000 in the financial year 2003–04, rising to £214,000 in 2004–05. The number of staff in post (full-time equivalents) at 31 March 2004 was 3.1 and at 30 November 2004 was 4.1 (excluding the administrative head of the CJC, as he has split responsibilities and is funded by the Master of the Rolls).
	(c) As the term "Criminal Justice Integration Unit" is unfamiliar, this question cannot be answered.
	(d) The Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships (CDRP), although having statutory functions, are not organisations in their own right and it is not possible to quantify the staff employed. CDRPs are "virtual" partnerships, reliant upon the individual partners for the quality and quantity of resource available to them. Their work is largely co-ordinated by staff employed by local authorities, supplemented by seconded, or dedicated, police officers and officers from other Responsible Authorities.
	(e) The budgets for, and number of staff employed by, the regional crime reduction teams at the 10 Government Office for the Regions is given in the following table.
	
		
			  2003–04 2004–05 
			 Region Budget £000 Staff employed Budget £000 Staff employed 
		
		
			 NE 677 13.5 679 14 
			 NW 997 20.5 999 21 
			 Yorks and Humber 832 17.5 834 18 
			 West Midlands 980 20 982 20.5 
			 East Midlands 919 18.5 921 19 
			 East Midlands 790 15.5 793 16 
			 SE 815 16.5 817 17 
			 SW 890 18.5 893 19 
			 London 1,278 25.5 1,280 26 
			 Wales 626 14.8 654 16.8 
			 Total 8,804 180.8 8,852 187.3 
		
	
	Note:
	With regard to Wales, the budget shown here includes the Crime Reduction Director's Salary, and the number of staff employed in 2004–05 includes one Business Crime Adviser.
	The Crime Reduction Teams in the Government Offices for the Regions include drugs teams, partnership advisors, youth crime workers and street crime workers, among others. Not all of the staff within the team have their costs covered by the Home Office. The Regional Coordination Unit in the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has responsibility for the staffing of the Government Offices and the Welsh Assembly Government has responsibility for the Crime Reduction Team in Wales. The Home Office holds details only of the number of staff employed in the teams at the end of July 2004, which was then 448.
	(f) Drug Action Teams (DAT) were established in 1995 and are accountable to the Home Secretary. They are local partnerships charged with responsibility for delivering the National Drugs Strategy at a local level, with representatives from the local authority (education, social services, housing), health, police, probation, the prison service and the voluntary sector.
	The 149 DATs in England receive an allocation from the Partnership Support Grant to support delivery of the Drugs Strategy. The Partnership Support Grant was formed in 2004–05 from the merger of two previous funding streams, the Drug Action Team Development Grant and the Drug Action Team Communities Against Drugs Grant. The budget for each of the financial years 2003–04 and 2004–05 was £11.3 million.
	No information is held centrally about the number of staff employed by the 149 DATs.
	(g) The budget allocated to the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) in the financial year 2003–04 was £22.8 million, comprising £8 million from the Home Office, £7.4 million from the Department for Education and Skills and £7.4 million from the Department of Health. In that year the CRB employed 380 staff.
	The CRB's budget for 2004–05 is £8.1 million, comprising £2.7 million from the Home Office, £3.4 million from the Department for Education and Skills and £2 million from the Department of Health.
	(h) The Frank Review report published on 25 November 2004 states that in the first set up year (2003–04) a total of £3.743 million was spent on advertising media funded by the Home Office and Department of Health. The marketing and advertising budget for the financial year 2004–05 is £3 million, funded equally by the Home Office and the Department of Health.
	Frank is not an organisation so has no staff.

Initiatives (Funding)

Andrew Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what budget was allocated to the (a) Dedicated Cheque and Plastic Crime Unit, (b) Persistent Offenders Taskforce and (c) Asylum Decision Service Unit in each of the last two years; and how many staff were employed by each.

Fiona Mactaggart: The information is as follows:
	(a) The Dedicated Cheque & Plastic Crime Unit had a budget of £0.823 million in the financial year 2003–04, and employed 28 staff. In the current financial year, 2004–05, it still has 28 staff but it has no government-funded budget—the Unit is now fully funded by the banking industry.
	(b) There is no Persistent Offenders "Taskforce", but the budget for the Persistent Offenders Scheme was £5.355 million (of which £0.175 million was resource and £5.18 million capital) in the financial year 2003–4, when it employed 3.5 staff.
	In 2004–5 the Scheme's budget is £2.960 million (of which £0.120 million is resource and £2.84 million is capital). There are just 2 Home Office staff.
	(c) The Asylum Decision Service Unit does not have its own dedicated budget or staff.

Motoring Offences

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of those convicted of offences of (a) driving without insurance, (b) driving without a licence and (c) driving after the refusal or revocation of a licence were fined (i) less than 20 per cent., (ii) between 20 and 40 per cent., (iii) between 40 and 60 per cent., (iv) between 60 and 80 per cent. and (v) more than 80 per cent. of the maximum penalty; and what percentage were (A) disqualified immediately, (B) disqualified under the totting-up procedure, (C) awarded up to three points, (D) awarded between four and six points and (E) awarded in excess of six points in the last period for which information is available.

Hazel Blears: The available information taken from the Home Office Court Proceedings Database on convictions, fines and disqualifications for specific motoring offences 2002 (latest available) is given in the table.
	Data for 2003 will be available in March 2005.
	
		Driving licence endorsements and disqualification imposed at all courts for specific motoring offences, England and Wales 2002
		
			   Endorsements without disqualification Total disqualifications(12) 
			 Offence type Total findings of guilt (=100%) Total Percentage Total Percentage 
		
		
			 (a) driving without insurance  Using motor vehicle uninsured against third party risk (RTA88 S143(2)) 289,100 219,100 76 53,000 18 
			 (b) driving without a licence  Driving or causing or permitting another person to drive other than  in accordance with a licence (full or provisional) (RTA88 S87(1) and (2) as amended) 171,300 147,300 85 800 0 
			 (c) driving after the refusal or revocation of a licence  Driving while disqualified from holding or obtaining a licence  (RTA88 S103(1)) 48,500 25,100 52 18,200 38 
			 Driving after false declaration as to physical illness; driving after failing to declare; driving after refusal or revocation(13) (RTA88 SS92–94 as  amended) 60 44 73 1 2 
		
	
	(12) Does not include persons disqualified by the courts under S35 of the Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988 (penalty points system/totting-up). S35 statistics relate to persons only and cannot be attributed to a specific offence.
	(13) Cannot separately identify driving after refusal and revocation from the two other offences within the category (part of the same sub classification code)
	0 = Less than 0.5 per cent.

Press Officers

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much was spent by his Department on press officers in each of the past eight years, broken down by grade.

Fiona Mactaggart: Press officers within the Home Office are employed at the Information Officer (IO) and Senior Information Officer (SIO) grades, the costs of these staff for the years requested are as follows:
	
		
			 £ 
			 Grade 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 
		
		
			 IO 239,400 212,010 185,022 210,040 
			 SIO 129,600 119,990 143,978 132,960 
			 Total 369,000 332,000 329,000 345,000 
		
	
	
		
			 £ 
			 Grade 2000–01(15) 2001–02(16) 2002–03 2003–04 
		
		
			 IO 500,475 711,629 1,141,990 1,229,629 
			 SIO 362,525 288,371 560,192 670,371 
			 Total 863,000 1,000,000 1,700,000 1,900,000 
		
	
	(15) Expansion of the Home Office press office followed an external consultant's review of its staffing and operation in 1999 and recommended the creation of the "Newsdesk" so as to better meet the demands of the media. This improved efficiency from losing in excess of 20 per cent. of the calls pre-expansion, to a position where from June 2003 to June 2004 91.8 per cent. of the 67,070 press calls received by the Newsdesk were answered.
	(16) The Home Office press office and the prison service press office merged in May 2001

Prisons

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners at (a) Elmley prison and (b) Swaleside prison have been reclassified from category C to category D in each year since 1997.

Paul Goggins: Figures for the number of prisoners recategorised from category C to category D are available only from November 1999 onwards for Elmley prison and from 2004 for Swaleside prison.
	These are shown in the following table.
	
		
			  2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005(17) 
		
		
			 Elmley 84 169 155 108 150 5 
			 Swaleside (18)— (18)— (18)— (18)— 18 1 
			 Total (18)— (18)— (18)— (18)— 168 6 
		
	
	(17) To date.
	(18) Figures not recorded.

Private Mario Clarke

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers are assigned to the investigation into the death of Private Mario Clarke in Hackney on 26 December 2002; what steps have been taken to maintain contact of a family liaison officer with Private Clarke's widow, subsequent to her deportation to Jamaica; what steps have been taken to establish an inquest into the death; and whether public funds will be made available to Deveen Clarke to attend the inquest.

Hazel Blears: The investigation into the murder of Private Mario Clarke is being conducted by a Murder Investigation Team (MIT) from the Metropolitan Police Trident team. The MIT's strength is that of a normal MIT with one Detective Chief Inspector, three Detective Inspectors five, Detective Sergeants and 23 Detective Constables and support staff. Private Clarke's widow Deveen has been contacted in Jamaica by the Family liaison officers directly and in addition through other members of the family when her movements made communications difficult. An inquest into the murder was held on the 22 September 2004 by the coroner Mr Reid. The result was a verdict of unlawful killing. The Met have indicated that as Deveen Clarke did not attend the inquest it was not necessary to make public funds available.

Publications

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much has been spent on (a) preparation, (b) publication and (c) delivery of "The Sharp End" magazine.

Hazel Blears: "The Sharp End" magazine is for frontline police officers, Community Support Officers and police staff. It aims to inform them about changes which are making a difference to their working lives. The Government have a duty to explain how its policies impact on this key audience, and our research shows they would welcome it.
	The Sharp End complements the local information police officers receive from their Chief Constables and other sources. The first issue included articles on new antisocial behaviour powers, best practice on cutting burglary, preserving scenes of crime and using new techniques such as automatic number plate recognition, the introduction of new equipment such as non-lethal weapons ('tasers') and how officers can stay fit for their job.
	Total costs for the magazine this financial year have been £588,604.94 which is broken down as follows:
	(a) Preparation: £140,769.99—this covered the research phase including production of a test issue of the magazine
	(b) Publication: £251,397.00—this covers the design, production and printing of three issues of the magazine
	(c) Distribution: £196,437.95—this covers direct mailing of sample magazines to forces, distribution of three issues of the magazine, subscription list building and order fulfilment. These costs relate largely to the launch and set up of the magazine and therefore will reduce considerably next financial year.
	This represents good value for ensuring that all frontline police have information about issues affecting their working lives.

Research and Development

Anne Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many research and development procurement opportunities were disseminated by the Department to small and medium-sized enterprises registered through the Small Business Research Initiative in each year since 2001–02, to date; and what the value of such opportunities was in each case.

Fiona Mactaggart: The Home Office does not hold a central record of the number or value of research and development procurement opportunities that were disseminated by the Department to small and medium-sized enterprises registered through the Small Business Research Initiative in each financial year since 2001–02. To obtain this information would incur disproportionate costs.

Sex Offenders

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of sex offenders committed suicide in (a) overcrowded and (b) non-overcrowded prisons in each of the last five years.

Paul Goggins: The information requested with respect to individuals in prison charged with, convicted of or sentenced for sexual offences is provided in the following table.
	
		
			  Number who apparently took their own lives Number who apparently took their own lives that were in prisons operating over their CNA1 Percentage Number who apparently took their own lives that were in prisons operating under their CNA Percentage 
		
		
			 2000 8 7 88 1 12 
			 2001 7 5 71 2 29 
			 2002 8 8 100 0 0 
			 2003 9 8 89 1 11 
			 2004 5 3 60 2 40 
		
	
	(19) Certified Normal Accommodation. This is the uncrowded capacity of an establishment (after adjusting for accommodation out of use), that is to say with no prisoners sharing two to a cell certified for one. Though the holding prisons were, at the time of the prisoners' deaths, operating over their respective CNAs, this does not necessarily mean that the prisoners who died were accommodated in 'overcrowded' conditions, for example, one of two prisoners accommodated in a cell designed for one.

Suffolk Police (Recorded Offences)

Richard Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many offences have been recorded by the Suffolk police force in each year since 1995, broken down by category.

Hazel Blears: The information requested in the given in the following tables.
	
		Table 1: Offences recorded by the police in Suffolk1995 to 2001–02 Number of offences
		
			 Period Total Violence against the person Sexual offences Robbery Burglary 
		
		
			 1995 38,233 2,050 357 129 7,114 
			 1996 37,094 2,136 351 156 6,384 
			 1997 35,639 2,448 400 141 6,094 
			 1998–991, 2 39,908 3,820 405 140 6,241 
			 1999–2000 43,355 5,303 389 223 6,214 
			 2000–01 44,317 6,395 421 177 5,738 
			 2001–02 50,492 7,354 486 289 6,346 
		
	
	
		
			 Period Theft and handling stolen goods Fraud and forgery Criminal damage Drug offences(20) Other offences 
		
		
			 1995 19,282 1,243 7,359 356 343 
			 1996 18,134 1,333 7,965 301 334 
			 1997 16,952 1,116 7,835 333 320 
			 1998–991, 2 17,097 2,099 7,898 1,581 627 
			 1999–2000 17,422 2,182 9,547 1,410 665 
			 2000–01 17,196 2,372 10,150 1,178 690 
			 2001–02 19,419 2,428 12,095 1,292 783 
		
	
	(20) Figures for 1995–97 cover trafficking in controlled drugs only. From 1998–99 onwards, they also include possession and other drug offences.
	(21) The number of crimes recorded using the expanded coverage and revised counting rules which came into effect on 1 April 1998.
	Note:
	The data in this table is prior to the introduction of the National Crime Recording Standard. These figures are not directly comparable with those for later years.
	
		Table 2: Offences recorded by the police in Suffolk2002–03 to 2003–04 Number of offences
		
			 Period Total Violence against the person Sexual offences Robbery Burglary 
		
		
			 2002–03 50,315 7,949 588 249 6,248 
			 2003–04 53,443 9,529 641 290 6,396 
		
	
	
		
			 Period Theft and handling stolen goods Fraud and forgery Criminal damage Drug offences Other offences 
		
		
			 2002–03 18,806 2,418 11,497 1,689 871 
			 2003–04 18,205 2,725 12,817 1,923 917 
		
	
	Note:
	The data in this table takes account of the introduction of the National Crime Recording Standard in April 2002. These figures are not directly comparable with those for earlier years

Afghanistan

Mohammad Sarwar: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on progress in improving women's rights in Afghanistan.

Bill Rammell: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Boston and Skegness (Mr. Simmonds) on 11 October 2004, Official Report, columns 209–10W.
	Through the Global Opportunities Fund the Foreign and Commonwealth Office continues to support an ActionAid project promoting Afghan women's participation in governance—£80,000 in Financial Year 2004–05. And the UK Bar Human Rights Committee project of human rights training for legal practitioners with a specific focus on women's rights—£240,000 over three years.

Burma

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what inquiries he has made of the Government of Burma about the internally displaced people in Shweygyn Township.

Douglas Alexander: We have not made representations to the State Peace and Development Council about this specific case.
	We are doing everything we can to press the Burmese authorities to begin a genuine process of reform involving all political parties and ethnic groups in Burma. A genuine transition to democracy is essential to address the underlying reasons for the displacement of people in Burma.
	The UK co-sponsored the UN General Assembly resolution of 23 December which condemned human rights violations suffered by ethnic groups in Burma. The Resolution called on the regime to "end the policy of systematic enforced displacement of persons and other policies leading to displacement within Myanmar and refugee flows to neighbouring countries, to provide the necessary protection and assistance to internally displaced persons and to respect the right of refugees to voluntary, safe and dignified return monitored by appropriate international agencies."

China

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs for what reasons his Department supports the lifting of the EU arms embargo on China.

Bill Rammell: The Government supported the December 2003 European Council decision to review the EU's arms embargo on China, imposed in view of circumstances in 1989. At that time there was no EU Code of Conduct, under which most refusals for arms exports from the EU to China are now made.
	As my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary said on 12 January 2005 to the Quadripartite Committee, the Government could envisage embargo lift subject to satisfaction on the issues laid out in the European Council Conclusions of December 2004. This included the statement that
	"the result of any decision should not be an increase of arms exports from EU member states to China, neither in quantitative nor in qualitative terms."
	Until the review process is complete, the Government continues to implement the Arms Embargo as set out by the then Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the late Derek Fatchett, in his reply on 3 June 1998, Official Report, columns 240–41.to my hon. Friend the Member for Gedling (Vernon Coaker)

Cyprus

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the case of Linda Orams and the extent to which judgments of the civil courts in Cyprus are enforceable in the United Kingdom.

Denis MacShane: It would be inappropriate to comment on the Orams' case while legal proceedings are in progress and the outcome is uncertain. The Government is of course following developments closely.
	Through our travel advice, website www.fco.gov.uk and in response to queries, we explain the unique circumstances in Cyprus and strongly advise potential purchasers of property to seek independent qualified legal advice. We also explain that the non-recognition of the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" and the possibility of a future political settlement in Cyprus could have significant practical or financial implications for those considering buying property in the north.

EU Fraud

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the European Commission on the combating of fraud within the institutions.

Denis MacShane: The Government frequently encourages the Commission and other member states, in line with their Treaty obligations, to take effective anti-fraud measures to protect the EU budgets.
	As the hon. Member will know, the European Court of Auditors checks the EU accounts each year. Its Report for 2003, as in previous years, found that the accounts
	"faithfully reflect the revenue and expenditure of the Communities for this financial year".
	The Court again found "irregularities" in the accounts, which prevented it from certifying the accounts completely. However the Court noted that 80 per cent. of the irregularities relate to accounting practices in some member states including the UK, not in those of the Commission, and also emphasised that the irregularities do not reflect the level of fraud.
	Moreover, the Commission this year plans to implement an ambitious programme of reform, which we believe will bring its accounting practice up to the highest international standards.

Peru

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of accusations of torture and killing levelled at the Administration of President Alberto Fujimori in Peru; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: We have not made an independent assessment of the accusations of crimes committed by the Peruvian Government during President Fujimori's period in office. Our information is based on the report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), published in August 2003. The TRC investigated the process of violence of political origin experienced in Peru between 1980 and 2000. According to the report
	"the TRC has reasonable grounds to affirm that President Alberto Fujimori, his adviser Vladimiro Montesinos, and high level officials of the National Intelligence Service are criminally responsible for the assassinations, forced disappearances and massacres perpetrated by the "Colina" death squad".
	Vladimiro Montesinos is currently incarcerated in Peru, awaiting a trial against him for the alleged crimes above. Alberto Fujimori is currently in Japan and has been since 2000. The Peruvian Government are seeking his extradition to face the charges detailed above.

UK Overseas Territories

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to visit UK Overseas Territories during the next 12 months.

Bill Rammell: Foreign engagements for my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary and other Ministers are kept under constant review. It is not our practice to announce such visits until they are firm. Because of the unpredictable nature of world events, final decisions on overseas visits are often not possible until very shortly before the day of travel and an announcement is sometimes not possible until a visit is under way.

Venezuela/Colombia

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of (a) relations between Columbia and Venezuela and (b) the implications of those relations for (i) UK-Venezuelan relations, (ii) UK-Columbian relations and (iii) the wider region.

Bill Rammell: Relations between Colombia and Venezuela are currently strained, following the capture of a member of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (PARC) on Venezuelan territory. Venezuela has recalled its ambassador to Colombia and suspended future commercial projects between the two countries. We understand that other regional governments, including Peru and Brazil, have offered to mediate in the dispute. We hope that the Colombian and Venezuelan Governments are able to resolve this dispute swiftly and amicably.
	We have no reason to believe that the current dispute between Colombia and Venezuela will impact on our bilateral relationship with either country. We continue to work closely with both countries on issues of mutual interest.
	Venezuela and Colombia are the largest economies in the Andean region and have an important role to play in the fight against terrorism and narcotics trafficking. It is important in the regional context that the two countries manage to overcome their current problems and resume close and constructive relations.

Welsh Language Scheme

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether his Department's Welsh language scheme was approved by the Welsh Language Board; and on what date the scheme was implemented.

Jack Straw: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office does not have a Welsh Language Scheme. However, we translate certain key publications into Welsh. In 2004 these included the "Guide to the European Union" and "Wales: European Enlargement".

Admissions Criteria

David Burnside: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish the consultation document on alternative admissions criteria to post-primary schools.

Barry Gardiner: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave on 27 January 2005, Official Report, column 516W, to the hon. Member for Strangford (Mrs. Robinson).

Cold Weather Premium

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people over the age of 75 were claiming the additional cold weather premium at the latest date for which figures are available.

John Spellar: The Social Security Agency does not provide a specific "additional cold weather premium" although it does provide cold weather payments and winter fuel payments.
	It is not possible to calculate the number of people over the age of 75 claiming either of the above. However 50,000 persons over 80 qualified for an additional payment.

Fraud Losses

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on losses from fraud affecting the health service in the Province.

Angela Smith: Information on losses from theft and fraud affecting the Province's health service in each of the last two years is provided in the following table.
	
		
			   £ million 
			 Year ending 31 March: Reported losses due to theft and fraud (22) Estimate of loss due to incorrect claiming of prescription exemption(23) 
		
		
			 2004 61,721 8.0 
			 2003 121,204 10.0 
		
	
	(22) This represents the amounts reported in the annual accounts of the Department, HSS Boards and HSS Trusts. The Department does not collect information on losses relating to theft and fraud separately.
	(23) It should be noted that the estimate of loss due to incorrect claiming of exemptions from prescription charges, will include those losses due to error as well as fraud.
	The Department remains committed to the continuing reduction of loss of funds due to fraud and theft.

Dentistry

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many dentists are employed in (a) Romford, (b) the London borough of Havering, (c) Greater London, (d) Essex and (e) England.

Rosie Winterton: The numbers of dentists employed in the geographical areas requested are shown in the table.
	
		
			 Location Number of dentists as of 31 December 2004 
		
		
			 Romford(24) 77 
			 Havering Primary Care Trust (PCT) 117 
			 Essex Strategic Health Authority (SHA) 613 
			 Greater London(25) 3,583 
			 England 19,810 
		
	
	(24) Romford data—'Romford" is not geographically well defined. This data is drawn from the surgery addresses that contain "Romford" as the start of one of their address lines. At 31 December 2004, according to the records on the Dental Practice Board database at 25 January 2005, there were 22 such addresses, with a total number of dentists of 77. Most of the surgeries (17 out 22) were in Havering PCT (5A4). Additionally, two surgeries were in Redbridge PCT (5NA) and three in Barking and Dagenham (5C2).
	(25) Greater London is defined as dentists working in the following SHAs:
	Q04—North West London SHA
	Q05—North Central London SHA
	Q06—North East London SHA
	Q07—South East London SHA
	Q08—South West London SHA

Hospital Infrastructure

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on (a) building and (b) renovation programmes for hospitals in (i) Romford, (ii) the London borough of Havering, (iii) Greater London, (iv) Essex and (v) England.

Stephen Ladyman: Details of all hospital building schemes with a capital value of £10 million and over within each strategic health authority have been placed in the Library.

Mental Health Social Workers

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) headcount and (b) whole time equivalent mental health social workers have been (i) approved to practise and (ii) in employment in the NHS in each of the last eight years.

Stephen Ladyman: While this is not data collected for the Department, according to a survey that was undertaken by the Royal College of Psychiatrist's research unit, there are 4200 approved social workers (ASWs) whole-time equivalent (4500 total) currently trained.
	From 1994 to 1998, the local government employers' organisation survey collected ASW data. This is the only data available.
	
		ASWs in England and Wales (pre devolution)
		
			  ASWs at 30 September Social workers on ASW courses at 30 September 
			  Numbers Percentage of all field social workers Numbers Percentage of all ASWs 
		
		
			 1994 4940 18.3 698 14.1 
			 1995 4678 17.0 665 14.2 
			 1996 4494 16.6 525 11.7 
			 1998 4768 17.1 598 12.5 
		
	
	Source:
	Social and health care workforce group social services workforce analysis, 1998.

NHS Budgets

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when his Department plans to publish allocations for (a) primary care trusts and (b) central budgets for (i) 2006–07 and (ii) 2007–08.

John Hutton: The publication date for the 2006–08 revenue and central budget allocations has not yet been finalised. We expect to publish the 2006–08 primary care trust allocations within the next few weeks.

NHS Business Services Authority

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to announce the functions of the NHS Business Services Authority.

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will announce the functions of the new NHS Business Services Authority; and if he will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: "An Implementation Framework for Reconfiguring the Department of Health's Arm's Length Bodies", published on 30 November 2004, made it clear that the new body will be the main processing facility responsible for payment, reimbursement, remuneration and reconciliation for national health service patients, employees and other affiliated parties. It will represent a merger of four constituent bodies: the Dental Practice Board, the NHS Counter Fraud and Security Management Service, the NHS Pensions Agency and the Prescription Pricing Authority. It is intended that the new body should be established formally by 1 October 2005 and a transition team is working to this timetable.

NHS Staff (Nottingham)

Graham Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) doctors and (b) nurses were employed by (i) the Nottingham City Primary Care Trust, (ii) the Nottingham City Hospital NHS Trust, (iii) the Queen's Medical Centre NHS Trust and (iv) other bodies (A) on 1 April 2000 and (B) on the latest date for which figures are available.

Stephen Ladyman: The information requested is shown in the table.
	
		
			  2000 2003 
			  Doctors Nurses Doctors Nurses 
		
		
			 Trent Strategic Health Authority (SHA) area 4,380 16,289 4,844 18,922 
			 Nottingham City: Central Primary Care Group (PCG) 51 41 n/a n/a 
			 Nottingham City: North and West PCG 76 57 n/a n/a 
			 Nottingham City: South and East PCG 59 49 n/a — 
			 Nottingham Health Authority 16 — n/a n/a 
			 Nottingham Community Health National Health Service Trust 55 884 n/a n/a 
			 Nottingham Healthcare NHS Trust 114 765 n/a n/a 
			 Nottingham City Primary Care Trust n/a n/a 192 853 
			 Trent SHA n/a n/a 6 n/a 
			 Nottingham City Hospital NHS Trust 313 1,508 421 1,770 
			 Queens Medical Centre, Nottingham University NHS Trust 555 1,787 724 2,040 
			 Total specified organisations 1,239 5,091 1,343 4,663 
		
	
	n/a = not applicable.
	Notes:
	All NHS doctors (1) and qualified nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff, including practice nurses employed by unrestricted principals and equivalents (UPEs) (2), in the Trent SHA area and each specified organisation as at 30 September each year.
	1. All doctors includes all practitioners (excluding retainers) and hospital and community health services (HCHS) medical and dental staff. HCHS medical and dental staff excludes medical hospital practitioners and medical clinical assistants, most of whom are also general practitioners working part time in hospitals. All practitioners (excluding retainers) include general medical service (GMS) unrestricted principals, personal medical service (PMS) contracted GPs, PMS salaried GPs, restricted principals, assistants, GP registrars, salaried doctors (para. 52 SFA), PMS other, flexible career scheme GPs and GP returners.
	2. UPEs include GMS unrestricted principals, PMS contracted GPs and PMS salaried GPs.
	Sources:
	Department of Health non-medical workforce census.
	Department of Health QMS and PMS statistics.
	Department of Health medical and dental workforce census.

Radiography

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate the cost of training a (a) radiographer and (b) radiologist (i) in each year of training and (ii) in total; and if he will make a statement.

John Hutton: holding answer 25 January 2005
	Information for England on the cost of training a pre-registration radiographer and radiologist in each year of training and in total excluding bursaries are shown in the tables.
	
		
			   £ 
			 Staff group 2003–04 annual cost 2003–04 total cost 
		
		
			 Diagnostic radiographer 7,630 22,890 
			 Therapeutic radiographer 7,160 21,480 
		
	
	Source:
	Financial and Workforce Information Return (FWIR) November 2004
	The figures in the table cover tuition costs only for the whole length of the course. In addition radiography students could be entitled to a means tested bursary, which in 2003–04 averaged £3,696 per annum.
	The cost of training a radiologist is the same as that for any hospital doctor. In the period between entry to medical school and full registration it is estimated that training a doctor costs between £200,000 and £250,000. After full registration, a doctor goes on to specialise, for example as a radiologist. The duration of post-registration training varies greatly and as service and training costs are closely related it is not possible to provide a meaningful estimate of the total cost of training.
	In the years up to full registration, the costs are as follows:
	
		
			 Year Cost (£) Components 
		
		
			 1 5,923 Higher education cost at pre-clinical rate 
			 2 5,923 Higher education cost at pre-clinical rate 
			 3 58,000 Higher education cost at clinical rate plus  NHS clinical placement costs 
			 4 58,000 Higher education cost at clinical rate plus  NHS clinical placement costs 
			 5 58,000 Higher education cost at clinical rate plus  NHS clinical placement costs 
			 6 28,000 Basic salary support for pre-registration  house officer year 
			 Total 213,846 — 
		
	
	Note:
	Costs for years three to five are estimates as the actual cost to the national health service of providing clinical placements for medical undergraduates is not known. The cost in year six is the level at which funding is provided centrally. It does not include various additional costs such as out-of-hours payments, which are met by employing trusts.

Rural Areas (Health Professionals)

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to (a) recruit and (b) retain the services of health professionals in rural and remote areas.

John Hutton: It is the responsibility of primary care trusts (PCTs) to assess and make provision for the healthcare needs of their local communities. PCTs have the resources to commission services and identify the number of professional staff that they need to deliver those services. The flexibilities provided by the new general medical services (QMS) and alternative provider medical services (APMS) contracts will assist PCTs in securing local workforce capacity. In addition, the Department is working closely with those PCTs who have been identified as having specific problems in general practitioner and other health professional recruitment. This work will be disseminated to share good practice across all PCTs, strategic health authorities and deaneries. "NHS Employers", the new employers organisation for the national health service, will provide advice and support to local NHS organisations still experiencing recruitment difficulties.
	A range of recruitment and retention initiatives are in place to help expand the NHS workforce across England. These include improving pay and conditions, encouraging the NHS to become a better, more flexible and diverse employer, help with accessing child care, increasing training, attracting back returners and running national and international recruitment campaigns. As a result of these measures, between September 1997 and March 2004, the total number of qualified nurses employed in the NHS has increased by 77,500. The primary care workforce has also expanded. Between September 1997 and September 2003, the number of GPs (excluding retainers) employed by the NHS has increased by 3,169, or 11.3 per cent., and the primary care nursing workforce has increased by 18,884, or 24.4 per cent.